This Shavuot, Memorial Day and Summer take your meals outside…. Every Shabbat all summer long, my family enjoys Saturday lunch outdoors, under a pergola with views of a lake…. With nature as your decor, how can you go wrong?

For Summer, I love galvanized metal, burlap and linen tablecloths and runners, retro touches and graphic prints! Here are some of my favorite pieces for outdoor dining.

Can you go a day…. a week ….. or how about a month without eating sugar?

I did it and so can you!

As the Passover holidays culminate, we, as Jewish women are ready to give back to ourselves by focusing in on what our bodies need right now. So, if you have been thinking about making an empowering life changing event to improve your health and well being- then this “30 Day Sugar Detox Challenge” is for you. Join me with hundreds of women to take control of their bodies, this Monday May 2, 2011 as we will begin our “30 Day Sugar Detox Challenge.”

Americans are faced with all kinds of addictions- and sugar is at the top of the list. The worst part about it, is that sugar is an addiction that usually begins as a child and can last a life time.

Through that time period, the sugar consumers are faced with the #1 health challenge -which is to simply stop eating sugar!
I know the Jewish women WANT to rid sugar from there lives, but not everyone has the courage to do so.
Here is a little help to kick this habit- who knows- it might even be for good!Monday May 2, is our start date to kick the Sugar Addiction for a 30 Day Sugar Detox Challenge.

COMMENT BELOW IF YOU WILL BE JOINING US ON OUR SUGAR DETOX!!!

Sunday May 1st (my birthday) is preparation day.

This is the day to tell all your friends and family. Everyone can be included!
Proper planning is the key to success.
So let’s begin:#1. You will need a Sugar Detox Buddy.
This is the person who you will speak or e mail on daily basis, for support, questions or just to help you through a hard day.#2. Go over your pantry and start reading ingredients. If the ingredients are:
Sugar, High fructose corn syrup, brown sugar, cystallized sugar, fructose, maltose, sorbitol,evaporated cane juice,syrups, xylotol or anything ending in “ose”- than that food is not for you!
There are many names for sugar- if your not sure- simply google it- ask your support buddy- or ask me!#3. Be aware for hidden sugars as in; mayonnaise, ketchup, salad dressings, sauces, corn flake crumbs,marinades and fat free foods.
These foods almost always are filled with sugar.#4. Alternative sweetness to use:

Stevia – zero calories(make sure its 100% Stevia)

Agave (60 cal per teaspoon)

Raw Honey-(More Medicinal)

#5. If there are certain foods that are a temptation to you (like home baked chocolate chip cookies are for me) throw it in the garbage…give it to your house keeper…sell it on ebay…….just get it out of your house!
Most Important Tip:#6 Mentally prepare yourself. If you want to succeed-you need to believe that you can do this!
Remember: “The most important things said- are the things you say to yourself”

If you are looking for a lingerie makeover, a gorgeous bridal trousseau, or if you need some mother’s day gifts (for yourself!) then Jamie Kurland is your one-stop shop. Jamie has been is business for over 15 years, her business originating in Manhattan. Now in the Midwood section of Brooklyn, New York, Jamie offers a personalized service in a private setting for all Jewish brides and married women. Jamie works by appointment to assure her undivided attention. A major plus to shopping by Jamie is her FREE alteration service. (I know that at 5′ 0 I could sure use that!)

Jamie has a loyal following of Jewish women that keep coming back season after season.

With the heat wave we had so far this summer, chances are you’ve been lounging out by the pool more than ever! Having guests by the pool is fun and keeping the pool area organized could make entertaining (and clean up time) a splash.

It’s important to keep the pool area safe by keeping flip flops, towels and pool toys off the floor. Here’s some ideas on how to organize your outdoor/ pool area to create an inviting space for your family and guests to enjoy all summer long. Dive in!

This week, I was honored to be part of an inspiring day of health, fitness, and wellness. For this event, a group of bighearted women put aside their own needs and journeyed together with purpose, passion and strategy to create an unforgettable inspiring day. I was invited, along with other motivating professionals, to teach my willpower& grace® exercise experience. “Pure Inspiration” was a one-day event to raise funds for Sharre Tefliah, a synagogue in Eatontown, New Jersey, yet it spurred ideas that will inspire a constant strive for health and wellness. I excitedly responded with a YES! I was eager to apply my knowledge and love for fitness to a good cause.

nspiration is the theme in which I live my life. I’m moved by fearless individuals who spend their time an energy creating unique potentials for themselves. willPower & grace®, (yes, the w is lowercase), is a special barefoot cardio workout that infuses a positive philosophy through elegant movements and physical strength. Positive thinking during the intense workout will encourage you to continuously strengthen your body, mind, and soul and live Ihappily in a body you love.

Minutes before the class began, I learned that the congregants of this synagogue have spent 18 of its 20 years in existence servicing either in a trailer or in a home. 2 years ago, a structure was built, however, the interior was lacking a few important sections. I began to reflect on the women that created this amazing day and felt the desire to help, just like them.

At that moment, I was deeply inspired to do something awesome. Sometimes all we need to navigate the pathway to greatness is to be inspired by someone else. I led my class, full of energy, with inspirational thoughts, aware that I am part of a fantastic cause. If we keep our eyes open and our hearts receptive, we can be a part of the great inspiring things happening all over our communities. We can then generate others on the path to greatness.

Think: Who are you inspiring? What can you share? Who can you share it with? We may not realize it, but people, especially our families, are perceptive to all that we do! Imagine how the world would be if we created a circle of inspiration. Be an exciting you! Honing in on your desires will allow you to pass on pure inspiration to those all around you. Pass it on!

Using all of her inner resources, Margie Bijou was able to transform heart wrenching grief into a positive energy that has added to the joy and glamour of hundreds of weddings and Bar-Mitzvahs.

In her own words, this is Margie’s story:

Chapter One: Ezra Abraham:

“My Mom called me one day and told me that my 16 year old cousin Eddie was going in for a biopsy of a cyst on his knee. It wasn’t a big deal but she was just wanted to make me aware. (Ironically on ER that week, there was a girl who was a soccer star who came into the ER with a sprained knee and walked out with an amputation due to a tumor in her lower leg.) So I told my mom that she shouldn’t ever assume anything.I repeated the epsiode details and she shouted some line in arabic which meant “HOW DARE YOU EVEN BREATHE such negativity!!!!!!!

I still remember the email my dad had printed for us that told us Eddie had at the most 3 months to live. He was 16.
We weren’t the closest of cousins. My uncle had moved his family to New Jersey and as hard as it is to be close with my family that lives a block away, its is 4 billion times harder when they live in another state.
I only got to know Eddie because of his illness..

Chapter Two: Sherri
My cousin was having a Bar Mitzvah for her son and needed a hat to complete her outfit. Of course, none were to be found across the entire tri-state area, so I decided to search the net. I got hooked on Ebay and started buying every vintage hat that I could find. Federal Express showed up at my door every day for 2 months and the hat boxes started to stack up underneath the baby grand piano…..About 200 hats later I finally found something in the same vicinity of the green we needed. A veil arrived. I sewed it and made it to fit…..Ah finally the outfit was complete.

A week later I received a frantic phonecall from Sherri whose son’s bar-mitzvah was in three days. “Margie- my dog Othello jumped onto the dining room table and chewed my hat up into a thousand little pieces!!”

Two minutes later, Sherri showed up at my door with the chewed up remains of two months of searching hours online and a over a thousand dollars in useless old hats.
It was a catastrophe!!
The next day an idea popped into my head. I ran out and bought a green kippah and sewed it back together.I still remember sitting at the dining room table pushing the needle throught the suede and into my fingers…
After 4 hrs I had reconstructed it to what it looked like before (except for a few teeth marks).
Othello was sent to live with a very nice family in the country and Sherri looked like a supermodel!

About a year later I moved into a new house and the hats were packed into bins and stuffed into a closet way up on the 3rd floor.

Chapter Three: Fate

One week after mothers day in 2005 , my mothers only sister, my aunt Merle died of melanoma on her lung. She had been only just diagnosed 6 months before. That same October of that year, 2 days before Yom Kippur, my fathers mother, grandma Margie died.

Two days after that,my cousin Eddie succumbed to a 7 year battle with rhabdomyocarcessarcoma.

Not something you see every day. My uncle Irwin sat shiva for his mother and son in the same week.

What a crazy year.

These tragedies inspired me to want to make every day of my life meaningful and not to waste one moment of the precious time that we have.

When Eddie passed away, my Aunt Susan gave me his hats that he wore during his illness to add my collection. It was then that the idea to lend out the hats to raise money for his foundation came to me. He motivated me to want to give back to others.”

Chapter Four: Hats Off To Life

A room in my home has been converted into a “Hat Room” where many Jewish women of all ages try on gorgeous hats and have a great time till they find just the right one!

The majority of the women that come in, are ones I have never even met or seen before, yet we bond as we try on dozens of hats…of course they bring over their possible choices of outfits, shoes, and accessories, and together we assemble their beautiful look for their momentous day.

Through out the last few years I have accumulated many many stories some funny, some sad…and some just out of control! Some days I seriously feel like a bartender and and not only do I decorate ladie’s heads ,but I also listen to what’s in their hearts as well…

Our hats are part of a private collection that consists of mostly vintage dress hats.Many of the hats have also been donated by people that don’t have a need for them anymore.

People are sharing! Women are calling other women to borrow hats. Designers are calling me to donate their hats.

People are giving more than just money, they are giving of themselves.

As a Wellness Educator, I’m constantly on the lookout for new ways to help people experience more peace in their lives. Part of what I do is teach people how to practice relaxation techniques. After all, remaining calm takes practice, just as Yoga, meditation, and a whole host of other activities. Oh, hold on a minute, my husband is calling me…

Now, where was I? Let’s see, oh right; remaining calm. Well, if we need to practice, where is the ideal place to do it? One of my Yoga teachers, Rodney Yee, suggests, “Even if you do have a designated yoga room, on some days you may feel like practicing in a different space. Go with your intuition and lay down your mat wherever you wish.” http://www.gaiam.com/product/yoga-studio/yoga-instructors/rodney-yee/yoga+core+cross+train+dvd.doWait, now one of my kids needs me, and I think I hear the doorbell…

Wow, I can’t get a moment’s worth of quiet. I’m sure you can relate to being pulled in different directions at once. Hey, forget about laying down a mat, who has time for that? The whole world is a Jewish woman’s Yoga mat! We are constantly multi-tasking while striving to maintain a semblance of grace. That’s it, bingo! The best time and place to practice remaining calm, is always and everywhere. The family will need us, the phone will ring, but we can roll with it. Not to fret, it’s not as hard as it sounds. In fact, you can even practice a calming exercise while you’re out shopping. Yep, shopping!The next time you’re in a store, try this; absorb the total experience. Don’t think about what happened a few minutes before, don’t worry about all the things you have to do a few minutes after, just be in the present moment. Focus on what you’re doing. Look around and really see al the colors and textures. Pick something up and really feel it’s weight in your hands. Some ‘retail therapy’ can do wonders for your mind. It can be a quick, much needed break.

Renee Salem Hanan, Co-owner of Shelly and Renee Productions, says, “There’s a sense of satisfaction, an excitement to finding an unexpected bargain. Trying on a new blouse or dress, etc. is an instant mood lifter!” As added incentive to do something nice for yourself, Shelly and Renee Productions is offering a free gift with purchase, at their sample sale of Nancy Gonzalez handbags (575 Madison Ave., 8th fl.) Hurry though, because this offer is good only on May 5th & 6th, while the supply of free gifts last! http://shellyandrenee.com/

Jonathan Zemmol of The Yellow Door concurs saying, “Sometimes the act of shopping, even for something as simple as a new vase or a lovely costume earring, can brighten someone’s day. The smallest of purchases can bring great pleasure. Everyone appreciates beauty, and it can be obtained at almost any price.” The Yellow Door in Brooklyn is extending their current Preferred Customer promotion to The Jewish Hostess readers; it’s $50 off any purchase of $200 or more. Offer expires May 9, 2010. Make sure to print out copy of this article to qualify for this special discount. http://www.theyellowdoor.com/See, I told you practicing a calming exercise is easier than it sounds! As always, scroll all the way down to post your comments. Let me know what you think and if you tried some ‘retail therapy.’ Tell your friends to comment too, because 1 lucky winner will be chosen to receive a FREE Thai Yoga Massage from www.embodyinc.com

Marissa Anteby is a wife, and a mother of 4 children. Her company www.embodyinc.com hosts holistic exercise classes in Cycling, Pilates, and Yoga, in cities throughout New York and New Jersey. Marissa maintains more than 10 wellness related certifications, including Reiki Massage, and Thai Yoga Massage. embodyinc.blogspot.com

As you know, The Jewish Hostess, is a brand new site, started by three Jewish women like yourselves looking to create a place online to share our creativity, war stories, tips and everything else that goes along with being a Jewish Hostess!! We are looking for writers from all walks of life. Have a family recipe that needs to be shared? Are you crafty? Great ideas for Shabbat lunches? Want to talk about keeping a kosher kitchen? Nutrition? Motherhood? Fitness?

Can you go a day…. a week ….. or how about a month without eating sugar? I did it and so can you!

As the Passover holidays culminate, we, as Jewish women are ready to give back to ourselves by focusing in on what our bodies need right now. So, if you have been thinking about making an empowering life changing event to improve your health and well being- then this “30 Day Sugar Detox Challenge” is for you. Join me with hundreds of women to take control of their bodies, this Thursday, April 8th as we will begin our “30 Day Sugar Detox Challenge.”

Your participation:A. Comment below with your thoughts and share with all our “detoxers” at TheJewishHostess.com.B. Have an e-mail buddy to report to on a daily basis. Everyday send to your supporter

> if you were or weren’t successful on that given day
> why you were or weren’t
> how your mind and body feels

Example… Hi Susie, this is Sari. I was successful on the first day of my challenge. I had all my meals prepared from the morning , which helped me to be successful thru out the day. My mind feels strong and determined! My body still feels bloated from the holiday. Speak to you tomorrow!

C. Weigh yourself Thursday morning April 8, and resist the temptation to weigh yourself until May 8. While weight loss is a give in, I want to draw our focus to health and wellness and not to the numbers on the scale.D. Incorporate clean healthy balanced meals by using all the food groups such as protein, carbohydrates, fruits, vegetables, and “good for you” fats.E. Join me and all of our “Sugar Detoxers” on Friday morning, May 7th from 10-12 for a morning to celebrate our accomplishments with a free inspiring class experience. RSVP….ASAP! (regardless of your ability to finish the challenge, everyone will be a winner!) (Brooklyn, NY area)

My participation:

A. I will be doing this challenge with you.B. I will share with you my own sugar expireinces –positve and negative!C. I will send sugar facts and tips to help you be as successful as you possibly can.

My mission for this “30 Day Sugar Detox Challenge”

TO LIVE A LIFE YOU LOVE IN A BODY YOU LOVE, by a heightened awareness of the foods we put into our bodies. Realizing that “what you DESIRE you can a will ACHIEVE!”

What to do today:

A. Eliminate simple sugars completely from your diet. Read labels! Manufactures hide the name “sugar” to fool us. The most common are called fructose and corn syrup.B. Do not restock your pantry with all the sugary foods that you simply cannot resist.C. Load your refrigerator and pantry with all fresh unprocessed foods.D. Visit the health food store and check out foods that you might enjoy such as cereals and oatmeal. Ask for the healthiest sweetener available such as Agave.E. Determine what staple foods you will be eating and make sure it is sugar free.F. Take the time to plan and prepare your meals- this is the most important step to success!

Dos and Dont’s:

-Artificial food sweeteners are a don’t! They are chemical based and is the exact opposite of the health and wellness benefits that we are striving for.
-Adding sugar to your morning coffee is acceptable only if absolutely needed. (I am so thankful that I’m not a coffee drinker!)
-Do enjoy every combination of whole foods.
-Don’t fret the small stuff- if you falter, just get back on track immediately.
-Do have sweet whole foods on hand (especially the first week) such as sweet potatoes and bananas, even dried fruit, so when a sugar temptation strikes, you will be well equipped.
-Do have regular meals everyday. (breakfast, lunch dinner and snacks.) Having regular spaced meals is an insurance plan that will maintain stable blood sugar levels.
– Do know that for most of us, this challenge will be at times very difficult. But, feel assured that it does get easier as every day goes by.

My Sample Menu:

8:00;-oatmeal with Greek nonfat plain yogurt and berries
(if I’m teaching a class and then working out I drink apple juice)
12:OO; post workout; a repeat of 8 am meal or hard boiled eggs and banana
3:00;walnuts, lentil soup or sweet potato and hard boiled eggs
6:oo; salmon, brown rice, vegetables or salmon brown rice sushi and vegetables
8:oo ; almonds and fresh dates
Note that I did not include quantities. I believe that you should eat until you are satisfied. This is what I like to eat, there are hundreds of great combinations of meals that will suit your taste buds that are healthy and sugar free.

With lots of health and wellness! Xoxo Sari

GROUP FITNESS MOVEMENT SPECIALIST LIFE STYLE ENTHUSIASTSari@dananyc.com Let me know how you are doing!

Ahhh, the count down is on. Only a little while till Shabbat. Why not pamper yourself with a body scrub?Here’s an easy body scrub that you can make right now. Here’s what you’ll need:

1. 1 cup of salt; it can be sea, Epsom or plain old table salt.

2. 1 cup of oil; baby, coconut, sweet almond, or even vegetable oil.

3. 6 drops of eucalyptus essential oil.

4. 4 drops peppermint essential oil.

(Don’t worry, you can do it without the essential oils this time. But go to a health food store during the week and buy some, so you can use them next time.)

• Mix the oil in to the salt. Then add the drops of essential oil.

Pour a spoonful of the scrub mixture on to a loofah or a washcloth. It’s ok if the salt has settled to the bottom, get that part on your spoon.

Apply the concoction to your skin, liberally. Don’t scour too abrasively; salt can be harsh on delicate skin. Avoid getting the scrub on your face and neck. But feel free to spend extra time on your elbows, knees, and bottoms of feet.

Now spoon on only the oil to your loofah or washcloth. Cover all the spots you got with the salt. Again, you could spend more time on your elbows, knees, and bottoms of feet.

Rinse thoroughly in the shower or bath.

You should feel invigorated. The salt exfoliates your skin and the oil softens and moisturizes it. Enjoy this while you can, because your few moments of that “Calgon take me away,” feeling are almost over… it’ll be time to get dressed and back to reality!